Episode Summary: Happier with Gretchen Rubin – Ep. 535: Create Your “Summer of __,” Some Reading Recommendations & Listeners’ Favorite Words

Release Date: May 21, 2025

In Episode 535 of "Happier with Gretchen Rubin," Gretchen Rubin and her cohost, her sister Elizabeth Craft, delve into the concept of designing a personalized "Summer of __" to infuse intention and joy into the warmer months. The episode weaves through various segments, including parenting advice, thematic summer planning, curated reading recommendations, and a delightful exploration of listeners' favorite words. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of the episode's key discussions, insights, and conclusions.

1. Introduction to the Episode’s Themes (01:09 - 05:02)

Gretchen Rubin opens the episode by introducing the main topics: creating a personalized "Summer of __," sharing reading recommendations, and discussing listeners' favorite words. She mentions a listener, Joy, who shared her journey from an unhappy long-term relationship to a fulfilling marriage and motherhood, highlighting the podcast’s impact on personal growth.

Notable Quote:

“If you're struggling with your relationship with food or your body, eating disorders make it pretty impossible to be, well, happy.”
— Gretchen Rubin [16:12]

2. Parenting Insights and Listener Engagement (01:49 - 04:57)

Elizabeth Craft shares a heartfelt response from listener Joy, who transitioned from an unhappy relationship to a fulfilling marriage and motherhood. Joy sought advice on essential parenting tips, prompting Gretchen and Elizabeth to encourage listeners to share their own valuable parenting strategies.

Notable Quote:

“Having a baby is one of those things where you're a blank slate, you know, nothing. So what seems obvious to someone else is a total revelation.”
— Elizabeth Craft [03:50]

Gretchen recounts her experience with a distressed moment when her baby woke up at 4 AM, emphasizing the importance of not fixating on the time to reduce stress—a piece of advice inspired by a listener's suggestion.

3. Designing Your “Summer of __” (05:02 - 07:34)

The hosts introduce the idea of dedicating the summer to a specific theme or goal, whether it's an activity like reading or adopting a particular mindset. Gretchen shares her personal journey of choosing reading themes for her summers, such as "Summer of Proust" and "Summer of Virginia Woolf," and introduces her current theme: "Summer of Sundoku."

Notable Quote:

“I realized I am truly starting to feel oppressed by the number of unread books that I have on my shelves.”
— Gretchen Rubin [07:06]

Summer of Sundoku: Gretchen explains that "Sundoku" is a Japanese term referring to acquiring reading materials and letting them pile up without reading. By dedicating the summer to tackling her unread books, she aims to alleviate the stress caused by the growing pile.

Elizabeth Craft reveals her themed summer: "Yacht Rock Summer," where she immerses herself in soothing, summer-inspired music to cultivate a relaxed and joyful summer mindset.

Notable Quote:

“It's about retaining a mindset for summer, which will then hopefully make me enjoy my summer and absorb it in a way that I don't always do.”
— Elizabeth Craft [11:37]

4. Reading Recommendations for Summer (19:26 - 29:19)

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to curated reading suggestions across various genres, tailored to fit into listeners' personalized summer themes.

• Popular Fiction:

  • Stephen King: Recommended for his storytelling prowess beyond horror.
  • Kristin Hannah: Celebrated for her engaging historical novels like "The Nightingale" and "The Women."

• Literary Fiction:

  • Iris Murdoch: Highlighted for her profound narratives.
  • Willa Cather & Marilynne Robinson: Praised for their literary excellence with books like "Gilead."

• Fantasy:

  • Game of Thrones Series: Recommended for fans of expansive fantasy worlds.
  • Octavia Butler: Especially the "Patternist" series, for its unique approach to the genre.

• Mystery & Thrillers:

  • Tana French & Ruth Ware: Suggested for their gripping storytelling.
  • Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen: Noted for their captivating thriller novels.

Notable Quote:

“If you like it, you'll go all the way. And if you do not like it, you will stop at page 50.”
— Gretchen Rubin [26:00]

5. Listener’s Favorite Words (32:10 - 36:12)

The hosts transition to a segment celebrating the beauty of language by sharing listeners' favorite words. This segment showcases the diversity and creativity in the English language, reflecting the personal connections and memories attached to each word.

Highlighted Words:

• Rebecca: "Ephemeral" – Emphasizes fleeting beauty.
• Donna: "Luminaries" – Reminds her of cherished family memories.
• Susan: "Spigot," "Creek," "Paprika" – Words that are fun to say and evoke sensory experiences.
• Jenny: A mix of ethereal and nature-inspired terms like "Ethereal," "Mystic," "Tranquil."

Notable Quote:

“It is a beautiful word.”
— Gretchen Rubin [34:28]

Elizabeth shares a touching story about rediscovering the word "luminaries," which brought back fond family memories and enhanced her linguistic appreciation.

6. Happiness Hacks and Practical Tips (19:19 - 22:02)

Gretchen and Elizabeth offer actionable happiness hacks inspired by listeners:

• Physical Magazines: Ashley reintroduced physical magazines to her life to reduce phone usage and serve as a role model for her child. This shift not only facilitates easier reading but also fosters mindfulness and reduced distractions.

  Notable Quote:

  “I have all these books that I really want to read and... it's very satisfying to shop your shelves.”
  — Gretchen Rubin [22:00]

• Making DMV Trips Enjoyable: Nick suggested transforming a dreaded DMV visit into a pleasant day trip by combining it with activities like visiting a museum or having lunch upstate. This pairing strategy turns an unpleasant task into an enjoyable adventure.

  Notable Quote:

  “It's a pairing strategy. It's also kind of a reason, like, a quest is more fun than a jaunt.”
  — Gretchen Rubin [21:32]

7. Demerits and Gold Stars: Driving Fears and Book Club Success (37:14 - 39:53)

In the episode’s concluding segments, the hosts engage in their customary "Demerits and Gold Stars" segment.

• Demerit: Gretchen admits her fear of driving and reflects on a recent challenging drive to pick up Eleanor from college. She acknowledges the importance of practicing driving to overcome her fears and encourages listeners to take proactive steps in facing their anxieties.

  Notable Quote:

  “I should have pushed myself to do it. And I just didn't.”
  — Gretchen Rubin [37:14]

• Gold Star: Elizabeth celebrates the success of her and Sarah’s slow read book club on Stephen King's book, highlighting the enriching conversations and connections formed with a diverse group of readers from around the world.

  Notable Quote:

  “We all agreed that we did get a lot more out of it. Reading slowly rather than just flying through it.”
  — Elizabeth Craft [39:39]

8. Closing Remarks and Call to Action (40:37 - 41:25)

Gretchen and Elizabeth wrap up the episode by reiterating the importance of intentional living through themed summers and engaging with meaningful activities like reading and connecting with others. They encourage listeners to share their "Summer of __" themes and experiences via social media or email.

Notable Quote:

“Design your summer reading list. If you haven’t, that is thehappierapp.com.”
— Gretchen Rubin [40:10]

Elizabeth promotes their substack and upcoming book club activities, inviting listeners to join and participate in future discussions.

Conclusion

Episode 535 of "Happier with Gretchen Rubin" serves as a thoughtful guide for listeners to craft a summer filled with purpose, joy, and personal growth. Through actionable tips, heartfelt stories, and community engagement, Gretchen and Elizabeth inspire their audience to embrace intentional living and cultivate happiness in everyday activities.

For more insights and to engage with the "Happier" community, visit happier.com and follow their social media channels.